Q: US Ambassador to China Branstad said in a recent statement that President Trump and President Xi Jinping had a very good, productive phone conversation regarding the global COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed appreciation for Chinese efforts to assist the US government in the export of needed medical supplies to the United States. Do you have any comment?

A: As you know, President Xi Jinping took a phone call from President Trump on March 27. The two heads of state exchanged views on cooperation against the pandemic and bilateral relations. Since the phone call, China has been acting on the spirit of the telephone conversation between the two presidents and staying in close communication with the US on epidemic prevention and control. Heads of health departments of the two countries spoke again by phone, and medical experts from the two countries held video conferences to discuss the situation of the pandemic and anti-epidemic efforts. Chinese provinces, cities, enterprises and institutions continued donating medical supplies to the US, and China has facilitated US purchase of medical supplies.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, pandemic respects no border or race; it is a common enemy of mankind. Only by working together can we defeat it. Currently, the pandemic continues to escalate in the US. We hope that the US can stem its spread at an early date and minimize the loss caused to the American people. We hope that the US side will work with China, respect each other, get rid of noises and disruptions, and strengthen cooperation against pandemic and in other areas in accordance with the important consensus of the two heads of state, so as to move forward China-US relations on the right track.